Improved device for securing lightning-rods



J. A. ENGGREN.

Attaching Ligtning Rods to Insulators.

No. 24.110. Patented May 24, 1859.

N.FETERS, PHCTO-LITHOGRAPRFJZ. wAsHmGTo M D C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN A. ENGGREN, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 24,110, dated May 24,1859.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN A. ENGGREN, of Brooklyn, in the county of Kingsand State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Mode ofFastening Lightning-Conductors to their Insulators 5 and I do herebydeclare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description ofthe same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making partof this specification, in which Figure 1 is an elevation of a portion ofa lightning-conductor attached to its insulators by my invention. Fig.2is a transverse section of the conductor, one of its insulators, and thefastening, taken in the line arm, of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detached planor top view of the springclasp. Fig. 4 is a detached horizontal centralsection of the caps placed on the ends of the insulators. Fig. 5 isavertical central section of the same.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the severalfigures.

This invention consists of an improved artiole of manufacture-via, aninsulator for lightning-rods composed of a glass standard, aspring-clasp having shanks and shoulders, and otherwise made as hereinshown and described. To enable those skilled in the art to fullyunderstand and construct my invention, I will proceed to describe it.

A represents glass insulators, which may be attached to the building inany proper way, and probably as desirable aniode as any would be to havethe insulators cast with a conical flange, a, at their inner ends, saidflange being covered by a metal rim, 1), having its inner side of taperor beveled form, so as to fit over the flange of the insulators, therim 1) being sesured to the building by screws 0 0, (See Fig. 2.)

B is a metal cap which is fitted on or over the outer ends of theinsulators A, one on each. These caps are constructed of sheet metal soswaged or bent as to leave avertical indentation, d, at its center, saidindentations being transversely of V form, as shown plainly in Figs. 2and 4. The caps B are also swaged with a flange, c, all around them andprojecting from them nearly at right angles, as shown clearly in Figs. 4and 5. On each side of the caps B notches or recesses f are made, theuse of which will be presently shown. The outer ends of the insulators Aare molded or cast each with a V-shaped groove, 9, to receive theindentations of the caps, and aralobetis formed all around theperipheries of the insulators to receive the flanges e of the caps B, sothat they will be flush with the ends of the insulators.

(J represents springs-clasps, which are simply metal strips having theirfront parts bent in V shape, as shown at a corresponding to theindentations (Z of the caps B, Fig. 3. The clasps are provided each withtwo shanks, it, each shank having an anchor or shoulder, j, at its end,the form of which is plainly shown in Fig. l. The insulators A are castor molded with recesses at each side to receive the shanks iand anchorsor shoulders j. (SeeFigs. 1 and 2.) From the foregoing description ofparts it will be seen that the insulators A are first attached to thebuilding and the caps B fitted over the ends thereof. The conductor D isthen fitted in the indentations or recesses (l of the caps, theconductor being of rectangular form, so that it may be fitted in saidindentations, and the spring or elastic clasps O are then fitted overthe outer side ofthe conductor, the shanks Maud anchors or shouldersjfitting in the recesses in the sides of the insulators, and the shanks ii by their own elasticity retaining the anchors or shoulders in therecesses ofthe insulators. The notchesf in the sides or edges of thecaps are to receive the shanks it. The recesses in the sides of theinsulators are made sufficiently deep to allow the outer surfaces of theshanks t i and anchors or shoulders to be flush with the insulators.

It will be seen that by this invention lightning-conductors may bereadily attached to buildings and a perfect insulation obtained. Thespring-clasp 0 cannot become casually detached, and both the caps andclasps may be cheaply constructed.

I am aware that glass insulators A have been attached to buildings asherein shown-to wit, by means of the rim 1) and conical flange a. Itherefore do not claim such device but Having described my invention, Iclaim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, as an im proved article ofmanufacture-- An insulator for lightning-rods, composed of a glassstandard, A, a spring-clasp, 0, having shanks 'iand shouldersj, andotherwise made as herein shown and described.

JOHN A. ENGGREN.

Witnesses:

S. H. WALES, WM. TUsoH.

